Random Drug Testing: Privacy and Trust

Two major concerns of parents, school administrators, teachers, and physicians are that Random Drug Testing is invasive and undermines trust between students and adults. The privacy concerns are raised by those both pro- and anti-RDT. There is a difference, however, in how the pro-RDT and anti-RDT address those privacy concerns. The pro- and anti-factions of RDT disagree, rather vehemently, about the trust issue.

Privacy

Those against RDT believe that the privacy of students is invaded. There is plenty of anecdotal information on the web that relate stories of students being embarassed and stigmatized from RDT. On the other hand, pro-RDT advocates believe that with the right testing procedures in place, the privacy of students is assured.

I am distrustful of any government intrusion in my life - what some might call a libertarian point of view. When anyone from our government, whether federal, state or local, tells me they're here to help, I instinctively cringe. This anti-big-government view point is cited by those that feel RDT is just one more encroachment into the private lives of its citizens. But it should be pointed out that the NJ Supreme Court decision